ONLINE RESOURCES –  

ECONOMIC DATA

The U.S. Census Bureau:  www.census.gov

Organization: U.S. Census Bureau.  United States Department of Commerce.  The Census Bureau provides statistical information to government initiatives like welfare, healthcare programs, etc.

Information Available:  Under the business section, sector summaries are available for all reports.  Extensive demographic information including economic factors.  Information includes statistics, projections, and a population profile.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics:  www.bls.gov

Organization: Bureau of Labor Statistics.  United States Department of Labor.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics, providing data relevant to the social and economic conditions of our Nation, its workers, its workplaces, and the workers' families.

Information Available:  Basic focus on statistical evidence.  Category headings include inflation and consumer spending, wages, earnings and benefits, productivity, safety and health, industries, international, employment and unemployment and more.  Regional resource information available by clicking on interactive map.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis:  www.bea.doc.gov

Organization:  The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produces economic accounts and statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the Nation's economy. To do this, BEA collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public.

Information Available:  Economic accounts include National, Regional, Industry and International. Subcatagorical information includes corporate profits, gross state products, capital flow, and international investment.  Each includes the highlights and the latest news releases on the topics.  Tables and interactive tools available.

FedStats:  www.fedstats.gov/

Organization: FedStats allows you to search the full range of official statistical information available to the public from the Federal Government. Track economic and population trends, education, health care costs, aviation safety, foreign trade, energy use, farm production, and more. Access official statistics collected and published by more than 100 Federal agencies without having to know in advance which agency produces them. 

Information Available:  The Topics A to Z section has more than 400 topics including agriculture to weekly earnings. “Gateway” to government statistics by region or subject.

 EconData.Net   www.econdata.net

Organization: EconData.Net is designed to help practitioners, researchers, students, and other data users quickly gain access to relevant state and sub-state socioeconomic data. The site aims to be a convenient, comprehensive first stop for anyone searching among the vast, disparate array of public and private data sources on the Web. EconData.Net is sponsored by the Economic Development Administration as a service to regional data users, and is jointly operated by Impresa, Inc. and Andrew Reamer & Associates, independent economic development consulting firms.

Information Available:  The information is divided up into eight parts: Links by subject, Links by Provider, “What’s New,” Ten Best Sites, Data Collections, Quick Links, Registration and a User’s Guide.  This site is very helpful as a tool to find resources.  Doesn’t provide much information autonomously but very comprehensive list of subjects and links.  Data Collection section includes more subcategories for indices, rankings, statistical methods and search engines.

The Economic Research Service of The United States Department of Agriculture:  www.ers.usda.gov

Organization: The ERS is the Economic Research Service branch of the United States Department of Agriculture.  Provides public and private decision makers the information they need to conduct business, formulate policy, or learn about the farm, rural, and food sectors. The Agency's work is structured among four divisions: Food and Rural Economics, Information Services, Market and Trade Economics and Resource Economics.  ERS' program encompasses research, analyses of food and commodity markets, policy studies, and development of economic and statistical indicators. The information and analyses are produced for the private sector and to help the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government develop, administer, and evaluate farm, food, rural, and resource policies and programs.

Information Available: Research emphasis is on competition with in the agricultural system, a safe food supply, a healthy population, harmony between the environment and agriculture and an enhancement of quality of life for rural Americans.  Publications can be found by topic, title, date and through searching expansive archives.  A ‘newsroom’ provides recent news in the world of agricultural economics.  A key topics list includes ‘macroeconomics in the ag and food economy,’ ‘agricultural market/trade,’ and other economy specific categories.

Congressional Budget Office:  www.cbo.gov

Office of Management and Budget:  www.omb.gov